I am #ACPEproud
Last week was a bright spot amid challenging times. We celebrated #ACPEproud week, honoring the work of our colleagues across the country, celebrating accomplishments and transitions, and remembering those who have died. Though we could not gather in person, in our usual ways, a series of videos and a social media campaign gave many of us the opportunity to recognize and give thanks for our colleagues in ACPE.
In particular, I have been reflecting on my work with the organization and the particular slices of leadership that I see up close. One of those is the Professional Well-Being Committee. The PWB is a board-appointed committee, comprised of eleven members from across our association. The Board’s charge to PWB includes:
- Develop new programs to engage members and alumni in the work of spiritual health and personal growth, collaborating with staff and volunteers. Includes both the care of educators and those educated by supporting existing programs and creating new ones.
- Provide oversight and develop best practices for professional consultation, support, collegiality, spiritual care and wellness of members and alumni.
- Ensure core values of diversity and inclusion in practices throughout the association.
- Develop criteria for support, nurturing and funding communities of practice, including current
networks.
Over the past few years, the PWB has worked diligently to create
and sustain the infrastructure to support and encourage a central component of
our organization: Communities of
Practice. Together with ACPE staff, they
have developed a funding process by setting priorities and evaluating specific
requests. They have counselled new CoPs
as well as closing CoPs, and helped many engage in self-reflection. Each PWB member serves as a liaison to six to
ten CoPs across the organization. As
liaison, they learn about the activities and membership of the CoPs, invite
reflection through the annual PULSE Survey, and advocate for the CoP’s needs in
the funding process.
PWB has recently assumed responsibility for the peer review
process, and through this process is coming to know more fully the issues that
challenge our educator members. The
committee has remained mindful of our practitioner and psychotherapists
members, seeking to grow ever more inclusive, always asking how our work is
lifting up the voices of those on the margins.
PWB is continuing to work on strengthening CoPs, especially those
that serve as the place of primary connection to the larger mission and work of
ACPE. They are exploring ways to support
members through the personal and professional stresses of the pandemic. And they are also considering new ways of implementing
accountability for and growth into our anti-racist commitments.
I am privileged to work with these committed and caring colleagues. I am #ACPEproud of David Hutchinson, Kathleen Gallivan, Kirsten Oh, Brenda Simonds, Shannon Burk, Glory Bautista, Kristin Langstraat, Jurgen Schwing, Mishca Smith, O’Donovan Yarde, and Leslie Nambo.
Katherine Higgins is the Director of Communities of Practice. She may be contacted at katherine.higgins@acpe.edu